Nursing-bottle nipple



June 28 A. BROWN NURSING B'OTTLE NIPPLE Filed April 10. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 1` "1,634,170 Jung 28 1927 A. M. BROWN NURSING BOTTLENIPPLE- 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 Filed April 10. 1926 Patented J une l 23,1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARCHIBALD M. BROWN, F AKRON, OHIO.

NURSING-BOTTLE NIPPLE.

Application filed April 10, 1926, Serial No. 101,148.

This invention relates to nursing bottle nipples and more particularlyto the construction of such nipples in a manner reni dering the samenon-collapsible.

' nipple so as to further assist in the prevention of collapse thereof.

A still further object of the invention. is to provide a device of thischaracter which `is readily applied to either large or small .E nipplesinthe construction thereof and which E will kbe durable'and constructionshown in the accompanying ".*diawings,

A, eicient in service. .l ,These and other objects I attain bythewherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodimentof my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a sectional View through anipple showing a single flap construction applied to the-ordinary nipplewall l Figure 2- is a section showing the double `flap constructionapplied thereto;

Figure 3 is a section showing the single flap construction employed upona lug formed-on the inner surface of the nipple;

Figure 4 is an inside elevation thereof;

Fi re 5 is a sectional view showing a doub e flap construction appliedtothe lug;

Figure 6 is an inside elevation thereof;

Figure 7 is a', section showing the single ap construction employedwhere the nipple has an internal reinforcing rim;

Figure 8 is a section showing the double flap construction in this formof the invention;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of'a small nipple embodying my invention;

Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a section showing the nipple inside out and illustratingthe position as.-

sumed by the flaps at this time. Referring now the drawings and moreparticularly to-Figure 1 thereof wherein I ject of the invention is to,

Yofthe body portion 10.

. shown in Figure 1.

have disclosed one form of my invention applied to a large' nipplehaving the usual enlarged bodyportion 10 adapted at one end forengagement with the walls of. the bottle, as at 11, the Wall of lthisbody portion is formed with an opening 12 which is preferablyfunnel-shaped with its larger end disposed at the outer face of thewall. Formed integrally with the inner wall adjacent the opening is aflap valve 13 formed asa wedge, the' smaller end of which overlies theinner end of the opening and lies flatly against the inner facev 14ofthe side wall of the nipple.

The butt or larger end provides the connection with the wall of thenipple and the inherent resiliency of the material will maintain thisflap in its closed position until suction is applied to the teat 15 ofthe'nipple or some other exterior or interior force applied to the flap.This'flap preferably has its narrow or free end disposed toward the openbottom of the nipple so that it may be readily engaged and forced to theopen position to permit cleansing of the inner face thereof and theopposed section of ,the wall The tapered opening 12 may be very readilycleansed.

In the form shown in to the flap 13 but oppositely disposed thereto sothat the butt end confronts the smaller end of the fiap13. This flap 16serves to reinforce the flap 13 and prevent the same y from openin untila greater vacuum is produced in the ottle than is necessary to causeopening of the flap 13 vin the'construction At the same time, thisstructure is very readily cleansed, particularly if the nipple is turnedinside out so that the inner wall 14 is stretched to cause the flaps 13and 16 to separate. This tendency to separate may be increased bycompressing the sides of the nipple, as illustrated in Figure 11, givingready access to the space under the flaps.

The structure Shown in Figure 3 of the drawings is similar to that shownin Figure 1 with the exception of the fact that the opening 12 isformedin a lug 17 produced upon the inner surface of the nipple. Astructure similar to that shown in Figure 3 is shown in Figure 5 inwhich the two aps 13l and 16 are employed. In Figure 7, the nipple isprovided with a reinforcing band 1S extending entirely around the wallthereof in which the opening 12 is l Figure 2, the iap,A 13 isreinforced by a second flap 16 similar formed. This opening may haveassociated therewith a single flap 13, as shown in this figure or mayhave both liaps 13 and 16 applied thereto, as shown in Figure 8. Each ofthe structures hereinbefore referred to, while illustrated in"combination with a large nipple,'may be employed With a small nipple,lif so desired. Where the reinforcing lugs or bands are employed, it ispre7 ferr-ed, however, that these bands be located upon the outersurface of the nipple, as

more clearly shown in Figures 9 and 10.

In the construction of small nipples, the teat l5n is preferably maderelatively short and the reduced neck ordinarily provided upon suchnipples is omitted so that a guard is provided to prevent theehild frominserting the nipple too far in its mouth.

While I have in the foregoing description and in the drawings onlydisclosed my guard flaps as applied to nipple constructions, it will, ofcourse, be understood that these iiaps may be applied to guard theopening in any similar construction where it is desired that air beadmitted to the interior of a hollow rubber article and the contents ofthis article prevented from escaping. Furthermore, these guard iaps,while preferably constructed in the wedgeshape above referred to, may beconstructed in .any desired shape and may be placed upon the body of thenipple at any desired angle. While I have described the second flap asoverlying the first named flap, this flap serves only the function of aguard flap reinforcing the first flap `and may be made shorter Wherethis is found desirable or necessary.

It will be obvious that the construction hereinbefore set forth fiscapable of a certain range of change and modification Without materiallydeparting fromthe spirit of the invention .and I accordingly do notlimit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim l. A nipple having the usual teat and provided in its side WallWith an opening, a Wedge-shaped yflap integrally connected at its buttend to the Wall of the nipple and having its smaller end normallyoverlying the inner end of the opening to. seal the same, said iap beingmore readily flexible than the wall of the nipple.

2. A nipple having the usual teatand provided in its side wall with anopening, a wedge-shaped flap integrallyconneeted at its butt'end to theWall of the nipple and having its smaller end normally overlying `theinner end of the opening to seal the seal the same, said thickenedportion prei venting collapse of the Wall of the nipple from reducedinternal pressure.

l In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my si gnature. v

ARCHIBALD M. BRO'WN.

